Tim Smith, the singer of the British cult group Cardiacs, died on Tuesday night (July 22), The Guardian reports, citing bandmates and Smith’s label. He was 59 years old. Although no cause of death has been provided, Smith had experienced health problems since he suffered a heart attack and stroke in 2008. “We are comforted by the fact that he left us silent, albeit suddenly,” said Mary Wren, from Cardiacs’ label Alphabet Business Concern.
Loved and hated by listeners and critics, Cardiacs built a cult following in the 1980s, turning between progressive rock and punk in bold, extensive, sometimes orchestral compositions. Their live shows represented absurd shows based on musical theater and provincial British twee. They continued to release records in the 1990s, drawing fans in Blur and Faith No More, and toured until 2007, with Smith backed by a rotating cast of musicians.
After his heart attack the following year, Smith suffered brain damage and spent much of his life in pain. Speaking to The Quietus in 2018, he compared his condition to “wearing a tight jumpsuit made of tights around him with running electrical pulses all the time.”
“His fans adored him,” label representative Mary Wren said in a statement. “He changed people for the better. He saved lives. His music was a refuge for the needy and he never closed his door or rejected anyone. I feel like church bells across the country are ringing his name. ”
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